Coronavirus: residents flock to restaurants, theme parks and cinemas as Hong Kong eases social-distancing curbs
- Bookings at premises from beauty parlours to restaurants and cinemas surge as residents embrace a return to some semblance of normal life
- Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily says Hongkongers must remain cautious about a potential rebound in cases
Health authorities reported a daily Covid-19 infection total well below 700 again, reflecting the improving situation that has prompted authorities to go ahead with the first phase of a staggered reopening plan covering venues ranging from cinemas, concert halls, museums and libraries to sports grounds, gyms, bowling alleys and places of worship.
But as residents embraced a return to some semblance of normal life, the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily warned the city must remain cautious over a possible rebound in infections.
“Hong Kong’s epidemic situation is going in a good direction, but [we] can’t afford to be careless,” it said in a commentary, adding that enforcing the nation’s “dynamic-zero” infection strategy was a prerequisite for resuming quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and mainland China. “The epidemic control in Hong Kong forms a part of the national anti-pandemic strategy.”
While gatherings officially remained limited to groups of four, restriction-weary residents were out in force, armed with consumption vouchers dished out by the government to boost spending.
